Lexical transformations as part of translator’s professional competence

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Lexical transformations as part of translator's professional competence

Holub O.

Key words: translator's professional competence, transformations, language antonymous translation, conversive translation.

Голуб О.

- кандидат філологічних наук, доцент, доцент кафедри германської та слов'янської філології Донбаського державного педагогічного

університету

Лунгу Ю.

- магістрантка ІІ курсу англо-німецького відділення філологічного факультету Донбаського державного педагогічного університету ЛЕКСИЧНІ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ В СИСТЕМІ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ ПЕРЕКЛАДАЧА

Статтю присвячено лінгвістичним і семантичним особливостям вихідного тексту, які викликають необхідність застосування антонімічного перекладу під час створення тексту цільовою мовою.Класифікація таких перетворень включає мовний та контекстуальний антонімічний переклад.Теоретичні положення проілюстровані прикладами з перекладів текстів художньої літератури українською мовою.

Ключові слова:перекладацька компетенція, трансформації,

формальний антонімічний переклад, контекстуальний антонімічний переклад.

Голуб Е.

- кандидатфилологических наук, доцент, доцент кафедры германской и славянской филологии Донбасского государственного

педагогического университета

Лунгу Ю.

- магистранткаІІ курса англо-немецкого отделения филологического факультета Донбасского государственного педагогического университета

ЛЕКСИЧЕСКИЕ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ В СИСТЕМЕ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТИ ПЕРЕВОДЧИКА

В статье представлены лингвистические и семантические особенности текста оригинала, которые обуславливают необходимость использования антонимического перевода в процессе создания текста на целевом языке.Указано, что данная трансформация бывает формальной и контекстуальной.Все теоретические положения проиллюстрированы примерами переводов текстов художественной литературы на украинский язык.

Ключевые слова:переводческая компетенция, трансформации,

формальный антонимический перевод, контекстуальный антонимический перевод.

Problem statement

translation formal contextual text

The formation of the translator's professional competence is aimed at improving habits and skills that will aid in analysing the source text, in reproducing its factual and linguistic content truthfully, in solving the major problems of equivalence, etc. Due to the discrepancies in language systems achieving equivalence in translation is not always possible without resorting to translation transformations. Definitions and classifications of transformations vary but they are considered to be an effective instrument in gaining the object of translation.

The analysis of recent research. The foundations of the transformation theory have been laid by such prominent scholars in the field of Translation Studies as: Ya. Y. Retsker, R. K. Minyar-Beloruchev, S. Barkhudarov, V. N. Komissarov, B. G. Gak, L. K. Latyshev, V. I. Karaban [3; 4], T. R. Kyiak, I. V. Korunets, R. P. Zorivchak, M. S. Zarytskyi [2].

The object of the paper. Theoretical findings of these outstanding translatologists have been further employed and improved in the practice of translation. Thus, the presented paper aims at disclosing semantic and linguistic grounds necessitating the use of antonymous translation as a translation transformation.

The necessary tasks of the research. To achieve this object it is crucial to analyse linguistic context in which antonymous translation is often applied; to outline semantic aspects leading to the use of this transformation; to illustrate all theoretical results with examples from literary texts and their translations into Ukrainian.

Research results

English-Ukrainian and Ukrainian-English dictionaries list regular correspondences between elements of lexical systems of languages. But words do not function as isolated units in speech. Their meaning depends largely on context and situation. To disclose such contextual meaning one should resort to some logical and semantic regulations. Thus in the process of translating one has to find it on their own which of the meanings of a polysemantic word is realized in the particular context, to see if under the influence of this context the word has acquired a slightly new shade of meaning and to decide how this new shade of meaning (not listed in any dictionary) can be rendered in the target language (TL). Moreover, every language has its specific way of reflecting reality in concepts expressed in words, and this way may be quite alien to other languages. That is why literal (word-for-word) translation of a foreign text may violate the rules of logic and grammar in TL. To avoid errors one has to resort to some special devices worked out by the theory of translation and known as lexical transformations (or contextual substitutions). Lexical transformations are such techniques of thinking that aim at disclosing the meaning in which the source language (SL) word is used in the context. Linguists speak about various types of transformations, but the most comprehensive classification includes such: differentiation of meaning; specification of meaning; generalization of meaning; semantic development; antonymous translation; integral transformation; compensation of losses in translation; addition of words for lexical reasons; omission of words for lexical reasons.

Antonymous translation as a lexical and grammatical transformation may be treated both as a language antonymous translation and as a conversive translation. Language antonymous translation covers positivenegative and negative-positive inversion and conversive translation is often treated as the highest degree of semantic development leading to the use of the antonym as an equivalent. For example, Harry knew he ought to feel sorry that Mrs Figg had broken her leg, but it wasn't easy when he reminded himself it would be a whole year before he had to look at Tibbies, Snowy, Mr Paws and Tufty again [9, p. 22]. - Гаррі розумів, що негарно радіти з приводу зламаної ноги місіс Фіґ, але стриматися було важко, бо він збагнув, що тепер лише через рік знову побачить знімки Мурчика, Білосніжки, Лапоньки і Марсика [6, p. 26].The negative predicate is rendered by the affirmative form in translation. So, it is an example of language antonymous translation, namely, negative-positive inversion. One more example: He rolled on to his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having [9, p. 19]. - Він ліг горілиць і спробував пригадати свій сон [6, p. 22].One and the same Harry Potter's posture is rendered through the notion back in the original and through the notion face in the translation: back - the rear part of the human body especially from the neck to the end of the spine [8]; горілиць - обличчям догори; протилежне ниць [7]. In this particular example one observes the use of the conversive translation.

V. I. Karaban classified antonymous translation into the following subtypes [3, p. 291]:

1) positive-negative inversion (a word or a word group without any negative seme being formally expressed is rendered by means of a lexical unit having some negative component like the negative prefix не- or a word group with the negative particle не) [id.], for example: He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone [9, p. 13]. - Усміхнувшись, він повернувся до кицьки, але її вже там не було [6, р. 13].

2) Negative-positive inversion (a word or a word group with a negative seme being formally expressed is rendered by means of a lexical unit without any negative component) [id.]. Such transformation requires other transpositions as well, for example: Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different- coloured bobble-hats - but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby [9, p. 19]. - Десять років тому там стояло безліч фотографій чогось такого, що нагадувало великий рожевий надувний м'ячик у різнокольорових шапочках з бомбончиками, але тепер Дадлі Дурслі виріс [6, p. 22]. Negative-positive inversion in the pair no longer - теперbrings about antonymous translation in the pair was (no longer) a baby - виріс.

3) Levelling of two negative semantic components [id.], for example, Potter wasn't such an unusual name [9, p. 9]. - Поттер - звичайне (розповсюджене) прізвище.Composite sentences with the negative particle not (as well as with other elements having a negative seme) and with conjunctions until, unless are translated by means of antonymous transformation not only due to purely language reasons but also because of the influence of some extra-linguistic factors such as emotional colouring, e. g.: It was plain that whatever `everyone' was saying, she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true [9, p. 14]. - Було очевидно, що, попри всі чутки, вона повірить їм лише тоді, коли їх підтвердить Дамблдор [6, p. 15].

Two negative components are far more often used in English than they are in Ukrainian [4, p. 334]. V. I. Karaban has studied meiosis in Ukrainian- English translation, as in the sentence: Його метод досить схожий на велику загальну теорію у фізиці. - His method is not unlike the Grand Unification Theory in physics [id.].

What particular linguistic and extra-linguistic conditions bring about antonymous translation?

Language antonymous translation is applied when one of the regular equivalents in the pair contains an implicit negative seme. Such cases are especially numerous in literary translation, for example, grudgingly - неохоче, suddenly - несподівано, to keep somebody away - не знатися з кимось, casually - недбало, still - непорушно[6]. The negative seme pertaining to the given and similar lexical units is, however, not expressed formally, and only becomes evident due to the componental analysis of their semantic structure: grudging - unwilling, reluctant; sudden - happening or coming unexpectedly; to keep away - to avoid smb or smth; casually - feeling or showing little concern; still - devoid or obstaining from motion [8]. As the analysis of the ways in which this implicit negative seme becomes formally expressed in the target language shows, such positive-negative inversion does not usually require the re-structuring of the whole sentence, does not involve further transformations: It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar - a cat reading a map [9, p. 8]. - Уже на розі вулиці він помітив першу ознаку чогось незвичайного - кицьку, яка уважно вивчала мапу [6, p. 6].One can easily trace the negative seme in the semantic structure of the word peculiar - different from usual or normal [8], i. e. not usual, not normal.

Traditional antonymous equivalents are typical of set phrases, clichйs, phraseological units, as in: `We may never know.' [9, p. 15]. - «Можна лише здогадуватися»[6, p. 16] - negative-positive inversion. - We'd better get this over with [9, p. 17]. - ... не марнуймо часу[6, p. 19] - positive-negative inversion. In many instances of antonymous translation it is not as much the style of the text or the context etc. that predetermines the use of the opposite notion in translation but also the translator's choice, whose task is to assess the adequateness of the construction, the degree of expressiveness and so on. So the latter example allows translation without the positive-negative inversion if considered proper by the translator: Покінчимо з цим. / Завершимо цю справу.

If one analyses the text of J. K. Rowling's novel `Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' [9] and its translation into Ukrainian [6], it will become evident that structures with such words as hardly, little, last, almost and the like often require the use of the negative form in translation: Although owls normally hunt at night and are hardly ever seen in daylight ... [9, p. 10]. - Хоча сови полюють переважно вночі і майже ніколи не літають удень ... [6, p. 10].`We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years.' [9, p. 13]. - Цілих одинадцять років ми майже нічого не святкували [6, p. 14].... the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen [9, p. 18]. - ...нітрохи не скидаючись на місце, де могло б статися щось дивне [6, p. 21].`Sorry,' he grunted, as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell [9, p. 9]. - Перепрошую, - буркнув він маленькому старому чоловічкові, що заточився й мало не впав [6, p. 8].

The preposition without contains a negative seme in its meaning (used as a function word to indicate the absence or lack of something or someone [8]), and it is exactly this component of its semantic structure which becomes explicit in translation: Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up [9, p. 18]. - Гаррі Поттер, не прокидаючись, повернувся у ковдрах на другий бік [6, p. 21].

In English sentences containing the structure neither ... nor the predicate functions in the affirmative form, while in corresponding Ukrainian constructions beside the conjunctions ні ... ні the negative particle не is used with the predicative verb, for example: ... for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now [9, p. 14]. - ... бо ні кицька, ні жінка не могли б так пронизливо вп'ятися очима в Дамлдора [6, p. 15].

The use of the antonymous translation is often caused by stylistic considerations, for instance, `You don't mean - you can't mean the people who live here?' ... [9, p. 15]. - Та ви що?..- Невже ви маєте на увазі людей, які мешкають отут? ...[6, р. 17].but you can't pretend he's

not careless ...' [9, p. 16]. - «... але ж погодьтеся - він легковажний» [6, р. 18].In the given pair of equivalents he's not careless - він легковажнийthe levelling of two negative elements functioning in the source text is observed.

Antonymous translation arises often as the result of a complete transformation of the original text, due to which one and the same situation or event is presented from an an opposite point of view. In such cases antonymous translation occurs as context-conditioned. For example, in the source sentence She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore here, as though hoping he was going to tell her something, but he didn't ... [9, p. 13] the subject he performs the action expressed by the predicate was going to tell, whereas in translation Тут вона скоса блимнула на Дамблдора, наче сподівалася щось почути, але той мовчав ... [6, p. 14] - the subject вонаperforms the action expressed by the predicate сподівалася почути.Moreover, in the translation of he didn't (tell her) by means of the phrase але той промовчавthe antonymous translation has been as well resorted to. This and similar examples prove in no uncertain terms the interpretation of antonymous translation as the highest degree of semantic development [3, p. 291].

Positive-negative inversion is often applied in the translation of constructions like I wish I could. This pattern is often used to express the speaker's regret about something being done or not being done, something impossible, for instance, I wish I could fly. - Шкода, що я не вмію літати. I wish you had informed me about it before. - Шкода, що ти не повідомив мені про це раніше.More examples from J. K. Rowling's novel `Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' and its translation into Ukrainian: `It's sort of secret,' he said, but he wished at once he hadn't ... [9, p. 194]. - Це таємниця, - вимовив він, відразу пошкодувавши про це ... [6, p. 272].Harry lay in his dark cupboard much later, wishing he had a watch [9, p. 27]. - Згодом Гаррі лежав у своїй темній комірчині, шкодуючи, що не має годинника [6, p. 33].Harry was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing he'd opened the letter in the hall [9, p. 33]. - Гаррі згадував учорашній день, гірко шкодуючи, що не відкрив листа ще в коридорі [6, p. 42]. Sentences are rendered by means of negative structures to reveal their sense to the highest possible degree of adequateness.

Conclusions

Thus antonymous translation is one of lexical and grammatical transformations used in translation. The types of language antonymous translation are negative-positive inversion and positive-negative inversion. Conversive translation is treated as the highest degree of semantic development.

Potential future directions of research should help methodologists training intended translators to work out such systems of exercises, manuals amd other teaching materials which will contribute to the formation and improvement of the trainees' professional competence.

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